Amur Cherry vs Opata Cherry Plum - TreeTime.ca

Amur Cherry vs Opata Cherry Plum

Prunus maackii

Prunus besseyi x salicina Opata

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

Amur Cherry
Opata Cherry Plum

Amur Cherry is a beautiful, fast-growing ornamental tree. It features attractive bronze/red bark that peels horizontally in strips.

This hardy tree bears white flowers in the spring, black fruit held in clusters in the late summer, and pointy leaves that turn yellow in the fall.

Note:This species is currently unavailable. Grow your own using Amur Cherry seeds at SeedTime.ca.

Opata Cherry Plum is considered to be one of the best tasting Cherry Plum varieties. It has a pleasant, sweet flavour and a hint of acidity. They ripen in mid to late August and are well suited to fresh eating, baking, and preserves.

The fruit is closer to a plum than a cherry but is smaller than most plums.The Opata Cherry Plum’s skin is red/green whereas the flesh is yellow-green. The flesh is freestone with a juicy, firm texture. Similar to other stone fruits, it does not store for very long.

The Opata Cherry Plum is a hybrid between a Western Sand Cherry and a Japanese (Chinese) Plum. For fruit production, it needs to be planted with another variety for cross-pollination. Canada Plum and American Plum are considered universal pollinizers.

Amur Cherry Quick Facts

Opata Cherry Plum Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 2a
Height: 12 m (39 ft)
Height: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Spread: 2.1 m (7 ft)
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: normal
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Fall colour: lemon yellow
Berries: black fruit
Fruit size: 3 cm in diameter
Flavor: pleasant and sweet, hint of acidity
Harvest: mid to late August
Flowers: white, in spring
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: short
Life span: short
Maintenance: medium
Suckering: low
Suckering: medium



Toxicity: toxic to horses, cattle, etc.)

Other Names: amur chokecherry
Other Names: opata chum, opata plum cherry